Rifling

Rifling is a pattern of helical grooves inside a firearm barrel that spins a projectile as it travels, stabilizing its flight.

Gyroscopic stabilization: The stabilization of a rotating object against changes in its orientation. Rifling gives a projectile the spin that resists tumbling in flight.
Firearm barrel: The tube through which a firearm’s projectile travels after ignition. Rifling is formed on the inside surface of this component.
August Kotter: A Nuremberg gunsmith traditionally credited with introducing rifling in the early sixteenth century. His name is associated with early European development of grooved firearm barrels.
Firearm accuracy: The consistency with which a firearm places shots near an intended point of aim. Consistent spin can improve projectile stability and reduce dispersion.
Fletching: A set of fins or vanes attached near the rear of an arrow or similar projectile. Fletching stabilizes an arrow aerodynamically rather than through barrel-imparted spin.
Twist rate: The distance a projectile travels along a barrel while making one full rotation. It quantifies how quickly a particular rifling pattern spins the projectile.
Bore (firearm): The interior passage of a firearm barrel through which a projectile travels. Rifling modifies the otherwise smooth interior of the bore.
Rifled musket: A military musket with a rifled bore, widely adopted during the nineteenth century. It brought rifling into widespread military use with elongated bullets.
Polygonal rifling: A barrel-bore design with a rounded polygonal profile instead of distinct lands and grooves. It is an alternative rifling geometry used in some modern firearms.
Fin stabilization: The use of fins to keep a projectile oriented during flight. It stabilizes projectiles without relying on rifling-induced rotation.

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